Home Health|Hospice - Articles

Reporting CCM and TCM Codes with E/M Codes
June 1st, 2022 - Chris Woolstenhulme
When reporting CCM or TCM codes, you will only get reimbursed for what is allowed. The E/M office visits can be coded in addition but are not interchangeable with CCM codes. You can bill an E/M visit during the time a patient is under Care Management, however, you can’t count time ...

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Chronic Care Management Services
June 1st, 2021 - Wyn Staheli, Director of Research
This article discusses some of the different Chronic Care Management (CCM) Services found in both the CPT and HCPCS code sets. CCM is not the same as Case Management Services in that case management has to do with “coordinating, managing access to, initiating, and/or supervising'' patient healthcare services whereas CCM services also require the patient to have a condition(s) which is expected to last at least a year or until their death.
New Codes for Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)
October 1st, 2020 - Wyn Staheli, Director of Research
New codes for Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) are effective October 1, 2020 based on the grade/severity of the symptoms. This article covers the new grading scales.
New Value-Based Payment Models for Primary Care (Primary Care First and Direct Contracting)
August 28th, 2020 - Jared Staheli
This article summarizes the new Medicare value-based payment models: Primary Care First and Direct Contracting.
Modifier 50 — Four "Must Know" Tips For Getting Paid
August 10th, 2020 - Aimee Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT, Director of Content
Modifiers added to an HCPCS or CPT© code alters the code description, providing clarity about the service for proper claim processing and reimbursement. Here are four things you must know about modifier 50 to ensure proper payment. - Modifiers are either informational or payment related. Informational modifiers provide additional...
Are NCCI Edits Just for Medicare?
July 14th, 2020 - Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS
The National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits were developed by CMS to help promote proper coding and control improper coding that leads to incorrect payments with part B claims. It is important to understand that NCCI edits do not include every possible code combination or every type of un-bundling combination. With that ...
New CPT® Codes Approved for COVID-19 Antibody Identification
April 15th, 2020 - Aimee Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT, Director of Content
On April 10, 2020, the American Medical Association approved and published a revision of code 86318 and added two new codes 86328 and 86769 for reporting Coronavirus [COVID-19] antibody testing.
CMS-Coverage for Therapeutic Shoes for Individuals with Diabetes
March 31st, 2020 - Chris Woolstenhulme, QCC, CMCS, CPC, CMRS
Therapeutic shoes and inserts can play a vital role in a diabetic patient's health. Medicare may cover one pair every year and three pairs of custom inserts each calendar year if the patient qualifies and everything is handled correctly.  Medicare Benefit Policy Manual explains what is needed for a person with diabetes to ...
Who Qualifies for Chronic Care Management Services
March 5th, 2020 - Chris Woolstenhulme, QCC, CMCS, CPC, CMRS
Per MLN Chronic Care Management Services, the following patients are eligible: "Patients with multiple (two or more) chronic conditions expected to last at least 12 months or until the death of the patient, and that place the patient at significant risk of death, acute exacerbation/decompensation, or functional decline, are eligible for CCM services." Examples of chronic conditions ...
Reporting the Health Effects of Vaping Now and in April 2020
December 19th, 2019 - Wyn Staheli, Director of Research
To report vaping related conditions/disorders, use the official CDC guidelines to ensure proper documentation of vaping related health conditions. There is also a new code that will become effective April 1, 2020.
Preview the PDGM Calculator for Home Health Today
December 4th, 2019 - Wyn Staheli, Director of Research
Until February 1, 2020, you can preview Find-A-Code's Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) home health payment calculator by going to https://www.findacode.com/tools/home-health/ .
New Medicare Home Health Care Payment Grouper — Are You Ready?
November 25th, 2019 - Wyn Staheli, Director of Research
In 2020, Medicare will begin using a new Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) for calculating Medicare payment for home health care services. This is probably the biggest change to affect home health care since 2000.
Medical ID Theft
August 16th, 2019 - Namas
Medical ID Theft "So, do you guys think you can do something with that?" John asked angrily at our first meeting with him in August 2017 as he slammed a stack of medical bills, EOBs and collection letters - three inches high - down in front of my partner and I. ...
The OIG Work Plan: What Is It and Why Should I Care?
August 9th, 2019 - Namas
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) founded its Office of Inspector General (OIG) in 1976 and tasked it with the responsibility to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within Medicare, Medicaid, and the other HHS programs. With approximately 1,600 employees, HHS OIG is the largest inspector general's office within ...
The Facts of Critical Care
July 19th, 2019 - Namas
Critical care services remain to not only be an area of confusion for providers, coders, and auditors, but also a constant target for the carriers for audit. We can sit back and look at critical care and think of all of the ways the code descriptor and/or use could be ...
5 Ways to Minimize HIPAA Liabilities
July 12th, 2019 - BC Advantage
Last year was historic for HIPAA enforcement. The HHS Office of Civil Rights collected a record $23.5 million in settlements and judgments against providers guilty of HIPAA violations. To avoid becoming part of that unwanted statistic, it’s important to pay extra close attention to five key areas of HIPAA vulnerability. Take ...
How to Properly Report Monitoring Patients Taking Blood-thinning Medications
June 18th, 2019 - Wyn Staheli, Director of Research
Codes 93792 and 93792, which were added effective January 1, 2019, have specific guidelines that need to be followed. This article provides some guidance and tips on properly reporting these services.
Home Oxygen Therapy
January 22nd, 2019 - Raquel Shumway
Home Oxygen Therapy Guidelines
Home Oxygen Therapy -- CMN for Oxygen
June 14th, 2018 - Raquel Shumway
The Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN) for Oxygen is a required form that helps to document the medical necessity for oxygen therapy. It also documents other coverage criteria for the oxygen use. For payment on a home oxygen claim, the information in the supplier’s records or the patient’s medical record must be substantiated with the information in the CMN.
Q/A: Coding for Lesion Removal and Repair
June 5th, 2018 - Chris Woolstenhulme QCC, CMCS, CPC, CMRS
The CPT book does not indicate repairs, measuring .5 cm and less, during lesion removal. Does this mean that...
Documentation for Home Health Services (Part A non DRG)
March 8th, 2018 - Medicare Learning Network
The Medical Learning Network provides coverage guidance, which should be documented, for home health services.
Increased Medicare payment rates for FY 2018!
August 4th, 2017 - Chris Woolstenhulme, CPC, CMRS
We can look forward to a few prospective payments for Skilled Nursing Facilities, Hospice and Inpatient Rehab; CMS released their final rule and reported on key highlights of the new FY 2018 Medicare payment rules. CMS States, “The 2018 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System Final Rule increases Medicare payment rates ...
Proposed Payment Changes in 2018 and 2019 for Medicare Home Health Agencies
July 26th, 2017 - Chris Woolstenhulme, CPC, CMRS
CMS announced today the payment rates and wage index system for 2018 has a new proposed rule for Medicare Home Health Agencies.  CMS stated, “The new payment system aims to encourage innovation and collaboration and to incentivize home health providers to meet or exceed industry quality standards.”  The proposed rule ...
Inpatient Compliance: Split-Shared Services
June 23rd, 2017 - Grant Huang
In the inpatient setting, a physician can combine his or her documentation with that of a non-physician provider (N.P.P.) to support an E and M service while billing the resulting code under the physician. This is called a “split-shared” service and allows physicians to bill at 100% of the fee ...
Modifiers: Reporting Wound Dressings
April 26th, 2017 - Chris Woolstenhulme, CPC, CMRS
When reporting dressings for wounds, it is important to indicate if the dressing is the primary or secondary dressing as well the number of wounds the dressing will be used for. Primary Dressing: May be therapeutic or protective coverings applied to wounds either on the skin or caused by an opening ...
Care Plan Oversight Services
March 1st, 2017 - Chris Woolstenhulme, QCC, CMCS, CPC, CMRS
Care Plan oversight services is commonly done but rarely billed. The following codes can only be billed once every 30 days. The use of the following codes are determined by the complexity and approximate time spent by the physician or other health care professional within a 30-day period. G0179 MD re-certification HHA PT May be ...
Documentation: Face to Face for Home Health Certification
February 27th, 2017 - Chris Woolstenhulme, CPC, CMRS
As a physician, you are responsible for providing appropriate, accurate supporting documentation of your face-to-face encounters (FTF) with your patients regarding home health care. Analysis of the recent errors identified by the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) Review Contractor shows a continuing increase in denials related to documentation for the FTF. ...

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